Method of assembling a refrigerator

Abstract

A method of assembling a refrigerator having an outer metal casing, an inner plastic liner and foamed-in-place thermal insulation between the casing and liner bonding them together including a high stress area in the liner that can cause the liner to crack due to a difference in expansion and contraction relative to the outer metal casing. The method comprises forming the metal casing, vacuum forming the liner from plastic material, placing at least one elongated slot open at one end and closed at the opposite end in the liner located in the high stress area, placing the liner inside the casing in spaced relationship thereto, and foaming the space between the casing and liner to bond them together.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of assembling a refrigerator having an outer metal casing, an inner plastic liner and foamed-in-place thermal insulation between the casing and liner bonding them together including a high stress area in the liner that can cause the liner to crack comprising: forming the metal casing,   vacuum forming the liner from plastic material,   forming at least one elongated slot open at one end and closed at the opposite end in the liner located in the high stress area,   placing the liner inside the casing in spaced relationship thereto, and   foaming the space between the casing and liner to bond them together.   
     
     
       2. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein the closed end of the slot has a radius. 
     
     
       3. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of the radius end is equal to the width of the slot. 
     
     
       4. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of the radius end is greater than the width of the slot. 
     
     
       5. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein after placing at least one slot in the liner and before foaming the space between the casing and liner the slot is sealed with flexible material. 
     
     
       6. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein after forming the liner a release agent is applied to . the high stress area in the liner. 
     
     
       7. Method of assembling a refrigerator having a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment separated by a mullion partition, said refrigerator having an outer metal casing, an inner plastic liner with a back wall and side walls and foamed-in-place thermal insulation between the casing and liner bonding them together including a high stress area in the liner that can cause the liner to crack comprising: forming the metal casing,   vacuum forming the liner from plastic material, said liner having a high stress area in the form of a horizontal channel in each side wall to receive the mullion partition,   forming at least one elongated slot open at one end and closed at the opposite end in the liner located in the channel in each side wall,   placing the liner inside the casing in spaced relationship thereto, and   foaming the space between the casing and liner to bond them together.   
     
     
       8. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 7 wherein there is a single slot at the front of the channels in each side wall. 
     
     
       9. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 7 wherein the closed end of the slot has a radius. 
     
     
       10. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 9 wherein the diameter of the radius end is equal to the width of the slot. 
     
     
       11. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 9 wherein the diameter of the radius end is greater than the width of the slot. 
     
     
       12. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 7 wherein after placing at least one slot in the liner and before foaming the space between the casing and liner the slot is sealed with flexible material. 
     
     
       13. The method of assembling a refrigerator according to claim 7 wherein after forming the liner a release agent is applied to the high stress area in the liner.